The Innocent Man (2012)
Quick Take: The Innocent Man (2012), starring Song Joong Ki and Moon Chae-won. 9.5/10. 20 episodes of 63 min.
Synopsis: Kang Ma-ru was a promising medical student until he confessed to a murder and went to jail for five years. He was innocent, but lied to protect his childhood sweetheart and first love, Han Jae-hee. She promises to wait for him but, determined never go back to the poverty she grew up in, within a year she has seduced and married a corporate Chairman, a widower with a daughter almost her same age. When Kang Ma-ru gets of out of prison, he discovers that Han Jae-hee has chosen power and privilege instead of him. He sees an opportunity to get revenge through her stepdaughter, Seo Eun-gi.
Seo Eun-gi falls hard for Kang Ma-ru, and tries to hold onto him even when she finds out that he has been dishonest about his history with Han Jae-hee. However, all that is forgotten — literally — when Seo Eun-gi suffers brain damage in a car accident. With Kang Ma-ru again at her side, can Seo Eun-gi successfully wrest control of the company from the devious Han Jae-hee? And when she gets her memory back, how will she feel about Kang Ma-ru?
Review: In most Korean dramas, we get enough of the antagonist’s back story to have some sympathy for them. In The Innocent Man, Han Jae-hee can claim the excuse of a brutal childhood and youth. However, by young adulthood she has a successful career as a television journalist and the love of a good man — yet she chooses again and again to harm others in pursuit of wealth and power for herself.
Because of Han Jae-hee, Kang Ma-ru’s life has been derailed. He also grew up poor in the same neighborhood, but succeeded up to the third year of medical school. Then he sacrifices his honor and career for love of Han Jae-hee, and spends five years in prison. Afterward, as a felon, he can’t get a good job. Though it eats at his soul, he leads a corrupt life in order to provide for his younger sister.
In the Chairman’s daughter, Seo Eun-gi, Kang Ma-ru sees a way to get revenge on Han Jae-hee. Moon Chae-won effectively plays two different women. Before the accident Seo Eun-gi is a shrewd corporate executive; after the accident, without her memories, she is sweet and trusting. Excellent casting and acting.
Many dramas seem to lose their way about 2/3 of the way through. The Innocent Man runs to 20 episodes, but maintains its narrative tension till the end.
The main theme is taking responsibility for your own actions. Kang Ma-ru’s single act of sacrifice, though motivated by love, ends up ruining several lives.
Rewatchable - 5, Compelling - 5, Plot/ Story/Writing - 10, Acting/Casting - 10, Production - 10, Bonus - 5. Bonus points for casting and acting. and Song Jung-ki.
Notes:
Song
Joong-ki
has been a top Hallyu star since his breakout role in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010). Other major roles include Descendants of the Sun (2016) and Vincenzo (2021). In 2017 he married his DOTS costar Song Hye-kyo; they divorced in 2019.
Moon Chae-won
has been acting since 2007. She has starred in many popular dramas, including My Fair Lady (2009), Good Doctor (2013), Criminal Minds (2017), and Flower of Evil (2020).